Let's get that holiday cheer going by providing cookies, candies and other yummy treats for our LWHS Staff to enjoy! 

Click here to sign up

Please deliver your chosen treats or items to LWHS Front Office between Monday, December 12 and 3:00 pm on Tuesday, December 13. Please label your items and specify if they are gluten free, sugar free, or any other helpful dietary differences. Treats will all be on display for the staff the morning of December 14.  

Questions? Contact Bea Jo, LWHS PTSA Staff Appreciation Chair

Registration Deadline is January 5

Sign up your student before the holiday frenzy!

LWHS PTSA is partnering with Princeton Review to give students the opportunity to take SAT and ACT tests just “for practice” at no cost. Student scores on these practice tests do not go on their records. Students take the practice tests online at a date and time that is convenient for them within the following windows:

• ACT Practice test: January 5-13
• SAT Practice test: January 21-29

Registration deadline is January 5. Click here to register.

Don’t let your student miss this opportunity to take the test for free! A few days prior to the test date, students and parents will receive instructions from Princeton Review.

Questions? Email satactpractice@lwhsptsa.org

Support LWHS students while doing your holiday shopping – at no extra cost to you!

Some LWHS PTSA programs operate solely on volunteer time and talent but others are fueled by financial donations. By selecting LWHS PTSA as your designated charity when you shop at Fred Meyer or Amazon, your purchases help fund our programs for students, staff, and the community. It’s easy to set up! Visit our website for step-by-step instructions.

Doing some comparison shopping? Join Microsoft Rewards, and your Bing searches will earn Rewards points that are automatically donated directly to LWHS PTSA.

The 2022-23 LWHS Student Directory is ready for PTSA members to use.

The directory is created by the LWHS PTSA as a member benefit. Please join the PTSA to access the directory.

Game Development Competition

Students attending a middle or high school with a PTA/PTSA in good standing may participate in this competition either individually or in teams of up to five, using their creative talents to develop a computer game or a board game. This year's theme is Curiosity. Entries are due February 15, 2023. The submission process is new this year. Visit WSPTA's Game Development Competition page for details.

Essay Contest

Every day, kids are exposed to a variety of people, and each one has an opportunity to influence the path a child takes. This contest is a platform for students to share their appreciation for the important influencers in their lives and education. Entries are due February 15, 2023. The student must personally know the influencer they write about. The submission process is new this year. Visit WSPTA's Essay Contest page for details.

Scholarship Program

Washington State PTA offers four $2,500 scholarships to graduating seniors from Washington public high schools with an active PTA/PTSA, who will be starting either a two-year or four-year college the following fall. Applications are due February 15, 2023, and scholarships are awarded by April 30. The submission process is new this year. Visit WSPTA's Scholarship Program page for details and eligibility requirements.

Dear Kang Families, 

As we look toward the second semester of the 2022-23 school year, we also look further into the future—to the 2023-24 school year. I am excited to share with you that our teachers have proposed several new classes, including those that offer Advanced Placement (college) credits at the 9th grade level and above. 

We have a student community that is eager to learn and to challenge themselves. It is our desire to prepare students for success in any road they choose, including one that advances to the university level and beyond. Our selection of Advanced Placement courses as well as participation in the "UW in the High School" program teaches students study skills necessary to both access college coursework and to learn advanced coursework.  

You can see our course offerings by searching “course catalog” on our district webpage. Please note that new courses are approved at the district level and they may not be reflected in that online catalog until January. Registration presentations will happen in-person with our counselors in early January. Students will bring home forms to discuss with you prior to entering course requests in Skyward at school.  

When it comes time to select classes for next year, I encourage students to talk with their teachers and to seek out counselor support when needed. Our parents and guardians also play a key role in helping students choose courses that best support their high school and beyond plan.  

At LWHS we are fortunate to have Nichole Swanger. She is our College and Career Center Specialist. You can reach out to Nichole Swanger by email (nswanger@lwsd.org) or your student can scan the QR code on the door of the College and Career Center to set up an appointment to access her expertise on all things college.  

I wish you all the best as we head toward our winter break. This is a time for our students to focus on schoolwork so that they can head into break feeling caught up and not overwhelmed.  

As always, I am here to support you and your family if needed. I am proud to be a Kang! 

Christine Bell  

LWHS Principal

The LWHS National Honor Society is partnering with Hopelink to hold a schoolwide nonperishable food drive now through December 14. They are collecting nonperishable food such as instant oatmeal, breakfast cereal, mac and cheese, canned tuna, canned meat, chili, hearty soups, canned fruit and veggies, peanut butter, pasta, and rice. All donations can be placed in the donation bin located in the entryway of the school.

Questions? Contact Riley Shepherd, LWHS NHS Vice President

Winter Break fast approaches!

Is your senior's essay or personal statement still under construction? Encourage them to sign up for help and get that task off their to-do list so they can enjoy a stress-free Winter Break!

Tutoring sessions are held via Zoom now through mid January on Wednesdays beginning at 2:30. We wrap up right before finals begin.

Click here to sign up

Questions? Email collegeapp@lwhsptsa.org

Hello families of Seniors,

Just a reminder that one of the graduation requirements is for seniors to complete their High School & Beyond Plan in Xello.

The following Senior lessons need to be completed:

• Résumé or Activity Log upload
• Career Path Choices
• Career Backup Plans

Questions about Xello? Feel free to contact us:

• Margaret Campbell (last names A-Law): mcampbell@lwsd.org
• Phil Magnenat (last names Le-Z): pmagnenat@lwsd.org

SENIOR PARENTS! It's time to start thinking about the awesome all-night party we're throwing for your kids the night of graduation on June 15. This year we will return to two venues with many options for entertainment, food, and a safe, good time for all the graduates. To help us plan and ensure everyone has the best experience, please take a moment to respond to this survey regarding the party: Senior Party Parent Survey

We'd also appreciate your senior participating in the student survey. Have your student click here and provide their input.

NON-SENIOR PARENTS: We are in need of chaperones for the graduation party on June 15. You can help with bus check in, chaperoning at venue #1 OR venue #2 OR all of the above. If you are interested in helping, please contact seniorparty@lwhsptsa.org. We need as much help as possible and thank you in advance for considering. 

TICKET SALES: Ticket sales will begin in January. Look for additional information coming later in December.

Senior Portrait Submissions

If students want to use their senior portrait for the yearbook, please submit to Jostens by December 11. Details can be found on the LWHS website.

Kang Kruisers Pictures

If your senior missed the Kang Kruisers day, they can still participate! They can gather their friends and their favorite mode(s) of transportation and snap some photos. Make sure that all parts of the car and all parts of the humans are included to give us the best possible option. Photos must be emailed to s-shernandezlopez@lwsd.org by December 11.

Senior Recognition Ads

Looking for an additional way to celebrate your senior? Through Jostens, parents have the opportunity to create a senior recognition ad for their student that will go in the yearbook. It’s a way to celebrate all their hard work and accomplishments. The deadline for ads is December 12. Click here for more information.

Senior Quotes and Signatures

Seniors also have the opportunity to include a favorite quote and their signature to accompany their yearbook photo. These are due December 12. Additional information is posted on the LWHS website.

Jostens special pricing has been extended to December 16!

Click here for the LWHS store with Jostens

Questions? Email Jostenspnw@jostens.com or call 360-653-9102 

From Andrea Frost, Youth Eastside Services Prevention Intervention Specialist with LWSD

Is your child experimenting with drugs, alcohol or vaping? Some normal adolescent behaviors can also be a concern for potential substance use. By not taking a stand against drug use we send messages that those activities are acceptable or that we aren’t concerned about it. You are in an excellent position to help your student get they support they need.

Please take a few moments to review the list of signs and symptoms of substance use you may see at home:

• Change in behavior, mood swings, inappropriate laughing
• Lower grades, failing grades, lack of interest
• Change in friends/not introducing you
• Secretive/door closed more or closes phone/laptop around you
• Bloodshot eyes, dilated pupils (large), pinpoint pupils (tiny)
• Chronic coughing
• Spending less time with family than used to
• Smelling incense, room/body sprays, cologne/perfume more

If you have concerns, we can work together to support your student to make healthy choices for the future:

• You can reach out to me via phone or email. 
• You can refer your teen to me to talk confidentially at their school (I am at each high school one day each week).
• Students and their parents/guardians can attend YES’ Alcohol Drug Education Class on a Saturday morning from 9:30 am-12:30 pm via Zoom. The class is free for LWSD families but registration is required: www.youtheastsideservices.org/adec.
• You can check out the resources at https://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/ and on this reference document for mental health, substance use or other kinds of counseling available in your community.

Questions? Contact Andrea Frost at andrea.frost@youtheastsideservices.org (encrypted email) or 425-586-2307 (confidential voicemail).

Parent Chat Webinar on December 7

Why Kids Aren't Talking to Parents: Learn How to Change That

At the heart of every conversation is trust. When you can build this trust, this keeps the lines of communication open between you and your teen. At our Parent Chat on December 7 at 7:00 p.m., we'll discuss how to create this trust. 

Register at www.lwsf.org/parentchat 

"Find Your Fit" College Planning Events Recap

During the months of September to November, the Lake Washington Schools Foundation Find Your Fit program supported high school students and parents through their fall webinar series, hosted by independent college counselor Mary Pat O'Neil. Missed an event? You can view recordings from our webinars on our Find Your Fit webpage.